Page 32 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

She nods, her blonde curls dancing as she does. Her bright blue eyes look up to me.

I sigh, dragging a palm down my face. I hate this.

“Do you know what the Veil is, little tidefish?”

She nods.

“Good. That's good. Well, the Veil was created to protect us, but today, it disappeared, and we don’t know why.”

“Where did it go?”

“Well, that’s what we are trying to figure out. In the meantime, it’s better that you stay here with Savi. That way, I know where to find you, okay?”

She crawls out of my lap and crosses the room to where her little jellyfish stuffed animal is lying on the floor among her toys. She retrieves it and settles back into my lap.

“Are we going to die?” she asks.

My heart breaks. “No!” I shake my head. “No, Clara. I won’t let that happen, okay? As your big brother, it’s my job to protect you, and that’s not happening.”

She offers me a hint of a smile before snuggling into me and closing her eyes.

I stay there for an hour, holding her. Between her and Raea, as far as I’m concerned, I will use my body to shield theirs if it comes down to it, because at the end of the day, they are the goodness in this world that must live, that must persist.

They are what the worlds will be rebuilt upon.

These two are the light and goodness in the darkness.

Chapter 13

Raea

Ciara and Kellan are with me when our transport lands right outside the palace.

Home again.

I’ve been fidgeting with the necklace Ryker gave me the whole way, feeling uneasy about something I haven’t put a name to yet. When he kissed my temple earlier, he was scared, though he was masking it well. Maybe that’s it. The feeling lingers beyond my grasp.

Tate took the transport back to Thirik, but I wish I knew he would be safe. I wish I could hold onto all of them and bring them home with me behind the protection of my father’s most powerful wards.

Of course, many of the palaces are warded, but none as strong as my father’s. In fact, there hasn’t been a person to ward as strongly since the Veil went up. The last one who could ward as strongly as my father was a Grand Duke under the emperor at the time. He died shortly after the Veil slipped into place due to unknown causes. Most likely, he forfeited his lifeforce creating the Veil.

I hear the moment the thrusters turn off. When the transport door opens, the three of us leave our bags, heading straight for the palace.

The train of my light pink gown snags on something several feet behind me before Ciara laughs and kicks it free. It seemed excessive when I found it in my bags at the start of the school year, but I’m thankful for it now. I need to be an image of strength, of protection, of confidence for my people. The silver diadem on my head is woven into my loose hair, the single opal falling over my forehead. It’s one of my favorites, and it goes so well with this gown.

“Princess Raea,” Ezra says, stepping off first.

The palace is swarming with people. I've never seen so many transports, all of them timing their landings while others launch back into space.

“Duchess Ciara, you and Duke Kellan will be staying here in the palace in your usual rooms.”

None of us says anything as we follow Ezra in through the private entrance. I want to find my parents, but I have no idea where to start—probably the command center.

“Princess Raea, please come with me,” Godwin, my father’s head of the palace guard, says.

I leave the group and follow him to the private control room, where my father is waiting.

“My girl,” he says, rushing to my side, wrapping me in the scent of leather and pine. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”